INDIANAPOLIS — Adults living with diabetes in the United States reported highest satisfaction using Roche Diabetes Care’s Accu-Chek products compared with other blood-glucose-meter manufacturers, according to the inaugural J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Blood Glucose Meter Satisfaction Study released Tuesday.

The study gathered responses from 2,681 current meter users with type 1 and 2 diabetes in the U.S. to determine customer satisfaction across six factors: performance; ease of use; design; features; cost of test strips; and training.

In addition to achieving the highest in overall satisfaction, Accu-Chek blood glucose meters by Roche, which include the Accu-Chek Nano SmartView system, Accu-Chek Aviva Plus and Accu-Chek Compact Plus, scored the highest in performance, ease of use, cost of test strips and training. According to a J.D. Power and Associates press release announcing the study results, Accu-Chek meters by Roche "perform particularly well in the performance factor, reflecting a high level of confidence among users that they are obtaining accurate readings."

"Roche is honored by these results because they reflect our unwavering commitment to providing our customers with the best possible products and services that fit right into people’s lives," stated Marc Gibeley, head of Roche Diabetes Care North America. "As J.D. Power and Associates is the gold standard of measuring customer satisfaction, we’re humbled by the outstanding results achieved by Accu-Chek meters in its independent analysis."

BC Powder new sponsor of SEC

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Prestige Brands on Tuesday announced a new sponsorship with the Southeastern Conference featuring its BC Powder analgesic brand.

Just in time for basketball championship season, the BC Powder sponsorship will introduce SEC fans to the fast-acting analgesic with a multi-tiered marketing campaign that includes 30-second television spots, radio broadcasts and consumer events. The sponsorship will continue through football season this fall.

To jump start the new campaign, BC Powder will have a presence at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville at the Men’s SEC basketball tournament from March 13 to 17. Visitors to Music City can enter the “BC Speed Zone,” a unique fan experience at SEC Basketball Fanfare located at the Nashville Convention Center.

“For BC, sponsoring the SEC, renowned for its speed and dominant, fast-paced play, is a perfect fit,” stated Wendy Frye, senior brand manager, BC Powder. “We want to remind sports fans that you don’t need to wait for relief. … BC Powder brings fast relief, so fans won’t lose precious seconds rooting for their teams just because they have a headache. ”

The “It’s All About Speed” campaign will be activated at retail through themed displays, remote radio broadcasts and a branded mobile unit to support on-site contests. This fall, the mobile unit will travel to select SEC campuses where fans can enter to win prizes, receive product samples and connect with Fast-Paced Ambassadors to learn more about BC Powder.

Consumers will also have the chance to get some quick cash by participating in the BC Fast Cash money booth – a portable booth that challenges players to grab as much cash as they can in a short amount of time. The legendary analgesic will also join game-day festivities for the SEC Football Fanfare at the Georgia World Congress Center prior to the SEC Championship game.

WHO updates consumption guidelines for salt, potassium

GENEVA — Adults should consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium, or 5 grams of salt, and at least 3,510 mg of potassium per day, according to new guidelines issued by the World Health Organization last week. A person with either elevated sodium levels and low potassium levels could be at risk of raised blood pressure which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Currently, most people consume too much sodium and not enough potassium.

“Elevated blood pressure is a major risk for heart disease and stroke — the No. 1 cause of death and disability globally,” stated Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development. “These guidelines also make recommendations for children over the age of 2. This is critical because children with elevated blood pressure often become adults with elevated blood pressure.”

Sodium is found naturally in a variety of foods, including milk and cream (approximately 50 mg of sodium per 100 g) and eggs (approximately 80 mg/100 g). It is also found, in much higher amounts, in processed foods, such as bread (approximately 250 mg/100 g), processed meats like bacon (approximately 1,500 mg/100 g), snack foods such as pretzels, cheese puffs and popcorn (approximately 1,500 mg/100 g), as well as in condiments such as soy sauce (approximately 7,000 mg/100 g), and bouillon or stock cubes (approximately 20,000 mg/100 g).

WHO suggested that public health measures to reduce sodium and increase potassium consumption and thereby decrease the population’s risk of high blood pressure and heart disease can include food and product labelling, consumer education, updating national dietary guidelines, and negotiating with food manufacturers to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods.

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